Spring in Texas is its own kind of magic. The bluebonnets are out, the pools are filling up, and kids of every age are finally outside doing exactly what they’re supposed to be doing. Most of the scrapes and bruises that come with that are just part of the season.
A handful of injuries do show up in Texas emergency centers every spring with enough regularity to be worth knowing about, but not as a reason to keep anyone indoors. Here’s a quick list of what parents should watch for when something goes beyond the ordinary bump.
- Falls From Bikes, Scooters, and Skateboards
This one spans every age. Toddlers on balance bikes, tweens on scooters, teenagers on skateboards — all of them are back outside in spring, and all of them fall. The signature injury is the FOOSH: Falling On an Outstretched Hand. Every age group does it instinctively, and in growing bones it often results in a forearm fracture that is very treatable with an X-ray and proper care. If a wrist or forearm is swollen or held protectively after a fall, come in. For head injuries, properly fitted bike helmets can reduce the risk of head injury by about 85%, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and any fall with vomiting, confusion, or a worsening headache warrants immediate evaluation.
- Water and Nonfatal Drowning Events
Texas springs warm up fast, and backyard pools and lakes are in use well before summer officially arrives. According to the CDC, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for U.S. children ages 1 to 4, and it does not stop being a risk as kids get older and venture into open water with less supervision. Any child with symptoms after a water-submersion event, including cough, breathing difficulty, vomiting, unusual fatigue, or behavior changes, should be evaluated promptly.
- Playground and Backyard Falls
Playground injuries peak in the early elementary years but backyard tumbles happen at every age. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 200,000 children go to U.S. emergency rooms each year with playground-related injuries, and most happen after falls from equipment. Most produce the predictable forearm fracture. The ones worth closer attention are falls from real height, especially any involving the head. A child who seems quiet, confused, or just off after a significant fall should be seen.
- Spring Sports Injuries
Little League, soccer, lacrosse, and recreational pickup games run simultaneously across Texas from March through May. Sprains, strains, and fractures are the most common result and are generally straightforward to treat. Concussions are the injury worth knowing about at every age and in every sport. A child or teen who takes a hit has a headache, nausea, and/or seems foggy, unusually quiet, or sensitive to light should come out of the game and get evaluated before going back in.
- Insect Stings: Fire Ants, Bees, and Wasps
Spring in Texas means fire ant mounds are active and wasps are building nests in places kids are about to put their hands. Most stings are painful and forgettable. The ones that need emergency attention are those that tip toward allergic reaction: difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face or throat, dizziness, or a weak rapid pulse. These develop quickly and warrant 911. Fire ants get a specific mention because a child who stumbles into a mound can sustain dozens of stings in seconds. Multiple stings can occasionally cause a serious systemic reaction and warrant urgent attention if symptoms go beyond the skin.
The Short Version
Go outside. Let them play. Come in if something looks broken, a cut won’t close, a head injury brings worsening symptoms, a water event raises concern later in the day, or your instinct says something isn’t right. That last one is almost always worth acting on.
Surepoint Emergency Centers across Texas are open every day and all weekend, with imaging on-site and no referrals needed. We’ll take good care of them, so they can recover and get right back out to play.
If your child is experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room immediately. This post is for informational purposes only and does not replace guidance from your child’s healthcare provider. Data sourced from the CDC (cdc.gov), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (cpsc.gov), and the American Academy of Pediatrics/HealthyChildren.org. Current as of March 2026.